By Mike Moffitt, SFGATE Updated 4:34 pm, Monday, July 2, 2018 Now Playing: A USGS video shows the emergence of "lava boats" in the wake of Hawaii's volcanic eruption. Media: GeoBeats As every kid knows from throwing them in lakes and ponds, rocks don't float. Except, of course, if you're talking about rocks floating on lava instead of water. That's a whole different ball game. As this video taken by Ikaika Marzo shows, very large rocks — bigger even than boulders — can float on the river of lava flowing from Fissure 8 of the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island. MORE: Lava boils away largest lake on Big Island in about 90 minutes #LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano LATEST: #IkaikaMarzo captures the phenomena that USGS has named a “lava boat”. Watch as it makes its way down the #Fissure8 lava river in Kapoho and then breaks apart 😳 https://t.co/66DxdlXUzZ @HawaiiNewsNow #HINews pic.twitter.com/bAQK1uYyJh— Mileka … [Read more...] about Watch a ‘lava boat’ sail down a molten river in Hawaii

Aerial footage of the aftermath of the Hawaii volcano eruption shows what happens when ocean water splashes onto molten lava. The U.S. Geological Survey posted video to Facebook this week showing explosions when waves from the Pacific hit lava from the Kilauea volcano on the coastline of the state's Big Island. The combination sends up a cloud of steam, hot water and tephra, or "molten splatter," according to the federal agency. The mixture of ocean water and lava also produces a toxic cloud called laze that the agency says can irritate people's eyes, lungs and skin. The aerial footage the agency posted to Facebook was recorded around midday Monday. … [Read more...] about Video shows explosions as Pacific Ocean waves hit molten lava on Hawaii coast